Steam superheater



Oct. 7, 1924. 1,510,862

J. G. ROBINSON ET AL STEAM SUPERHEATER Filed Sept. 27, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.\.

cl I

'J. G. ROBINSON ET AL STEAM SUPERHEATER Filed Sept. 27

1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Qct. 7, 1924.

.1. G. ROBINSON ET AL STEAM SUPERHEATER Filed Sept. 2'7, 1920 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 J. G. ROBINSON ET AL STEAM SUPERHEATER Filed Sept. 27,

4 sheets sheet 4 Patented Dot. 7, 1924.

UNITED srarss PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN GEORGE ROIBHUSON AND ROBERT ABSALOM THOM, OF FAIR/FIELD, MANCHESTER,

ENGLAND.

STEAM SUPERHEATER.

Application filed September 27, 1920. Serial No. 413,070.

T 0 all whom 2'2) may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN GEORGE ROB- INSON and ROBERT ABsALoM THoM, subjects of the King of Great Britain and Ire land, respectively residing at F airfield, Manchester, in the county of Lancaster, England, whose post-oflice addresses are, respectively, Mere Bank, Fairfleld, and 11 Leven Terrace, F airfield aforesaid, have invented Improvements in Steam Super-heaters, and we do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the. art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in steam superheaters for boilers of the multiple smoke or fire tube type.

This invention consists in the novel construction and combination of the parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, and which are specially applicable to marine boilers used on sea going vessels, which boilers are provided with superheaters having vertically arranged headers.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is an elevation showing smoke tubes of two nests of such tubes of a marine boiler, with a header, superheater elements and flange block connections securing the ends of the elements to opposite side walls of the header according to one embodiment of the invention, some of the smoke tubes and superheater elements being omitted from the group to the left of the header for convenience in illustration.

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view of the superheater illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 isa longitudinal section of the header taken on the line AB Figs. 1 and 2 looking in the direction of the arrow.

Fig. 4: shows detail views of one of the flange blocks in Which the steam inlet and outlet ends of an element are fixed and by which the element is secured in a steam tight manner to the header as hereinafter described, the lefthandview being a central longitudinal section of the block.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a portion of the header shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, with the ends of the superheater elements secured thereto.

Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are views showing the construction and arrangements hereinbefore mentioned, including the bending'of the end portions of the elements situated in the uptake and extending to the header Wall, whereby any individual element can be dis:

connected from the header and removed from the smoke tubes without disconnecting or in any way interfering with any other element. Of these Views F igs. (Sand 7 are views similar to Figs. 1 and 2 except shown in Fig. 6 with the ends of the ele ments secured thereto, and also shows, in section, some of the boiler smoke tubes and portions of the U-pipes of the elements therein.

Fig. 9 is a transverse section of an alternative form of header hereinafter referred to. i

Like reference numbers indicate corre' sponding parts in the several figures of -ithe drawings. Y

Referring to the drawings, 1 is preferably a steel casting, divided by the internal partition or wall 2, extending uniformly from end to end of the header, into two simple steam chambers 3 and 4 (see Figs. 2 and 3) respectively for saturated steam and superheated steam, saturated steam be ing conveyed into the chamber 3 through the opening 5 in the top of the header to which the steam. pipe from the boiler is connected by a suitable flanged connection as usual,

6 being the opening in the top of the header through. which superheated steam passes from the chamber 4 into the steam delivery pipeleading-to the engine this latter pipe being also connected to the top of the headerby a suitable flange as usual. 7 (Figs. 1 and 3) is a plate closing the lower ends ofthe the header,

steam chambers 3 and 4 this plate 7 being" suitably secured to the lower end of the casting for instance by a suitable number of studs. fixed in the casting and having nuts 8 screwed up on their ends which project through holes in the plate 7 9 are flanges or forward projections forming in effectcontinuations of the side walls of the header to which the ends of the superheater elements are secured as hereinafter described.

In the application of the invention to a superheater for a marine boiler as illustrat-- ed, the saturated steam inlet and superheated steam outlet ends of the superheater inverted trough in cross section.

elements appertaining to the nests of smoke tubes situated on either side of the header 1 are secured to opposite side Walls of the header in registration with suitably spaced holes in these walls, the hole for the saturated steam inlet end and that for the superheated steam outlet end of an element being arranged one behind the other in a plane transversely of the header as shown at 10 and 11 Figs. 2 and 3, the holes 10 communicating with the saturated steam chamher 3 andtheholes 11 communicating with the superheated steam chamber 4. 1n the example illustrated the steam inlet and outlet ends of each superheater element are fixed in a flange block or plate 12 in holes provided one behind the other in the longitudinal central plane of the block and these flange blocks 12 lie transversely of the header when in position securing the ends of the elements to the opposite side walls of the header as clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3 the holes in each flange block 12 which receive the screw devices 13 and 14, by which the blocks with element ends are secured to the header wall, also lie in the central longitudinal plane of the block, these screw devices and the hereinbefore mentioned holes 10 and 11 in the header wall therefore lying in the same plane transversely of the header as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. [is shown more clearly in Figs. 2 and 4t each flange block 12 has formed in it a hole 15 which receives the screw device 1-1 for securing the block at the front of the header, and an open ended slot 16 which receives the screw device13 for securing the end of the block at the rear of the header as shown in Fig. The screw devices 13 are, as in the example illustrated, preferably screw studs screwed. at their inner ends into the header casting and having fastening nuts 17 screwed up on their outer ends which project a suitable distance beyond the outer side or face of the flange block, and the screw devices 14 are T-bolts having fastening nuts 17 screwed up on their outer ends which project a suitable distance beyond the outer side or face of the flange block 12, the stems of these bolts 14- extending through suitable holes (or they might be open ended slots) in the flanges or projections 9 on the header walls which flanges form abut-ments for the T-heads 1'? of these bolts.

It will be seen that the outer faces of the walls of the header to which the flange blocks 12 are secured and the inner faces of these blocks are plain faces, and these faces are suitably machined so as to ensure an effective steam tight joint.

As clearly shown in Fig. 2 the internal partition wall 2 of the header is of curved form or has approximately the form of an By this construction the over-all width of the header from side to side and the overall depth of the header from rear to front are made as small as possible, while the cross areas of the saturated and superheated steam chambers 3 and t respectively are equal or sub stantially equal to each other, the cross area of the chamber 3 being equal or substantially equal to that of the usual steam pipe which conveys saturated steam from the boiler to the chamber 3 and the cross area of the chamber 1 equal or substantially equal to that of the usual steam pipe which conveys superheated steam from the chamber a to the engine. Further with this construction it is possible to employ the hereinbefore flange blocks with the ends of the elements fixed therein as close to each other as practicable and the screw devices 13 and as close as practicable to the ends of the elements whereby a very effective steam tight jointing of the ends of the elements to the header is obtaine The header casting is also very simple to manufacture, comparatively cheap and light.

as shown in Figs. 1 and 3 the flange blocks 12 on the saturated steam inlet and superheated steam outlet ends of each set of superheater elements appertaining to smoke tubes in two adjacent lateral rows of smoke tubes are arranged in a group there being, in this example, three flange blocks in each group corresponding to the number of elements in the set, the flange blocks in each group being arranged in close proximity to each other and the several groups of flange blocks suitably spaced apart as shown. Although only two flange blocks 12 are shown as applying to superheater elements in the smoke tubes of two rows in the nest :of tubes situated to the left of the header 1 in Fig. 1 it will be understood that, for convenience in illustration, one element with its smoke tubes has been omitted from each set in this nest of smoke tubes.

The expression set of superheater elements used in the preceding paragraph is intended to relate to several elements each of which has its U-pipes extending into smoke tubes contained in two adjacent rows of smoke tubes.

.111 the example illustrated, referring to the smoke tubes situated to the right of the header 1, Fig. 1 there are three superheater elements in each set and each of these elements has ix Upipes three of which extend into three smoke tubes in one lateral row and three into corresponding smoke tubes in the next row, the end. portions of these elements being bent and extending into the smoke box or uptake so that the flange blocks 12, fixed on the saturated steam inlet and superheated steam outlet ends of these bent portions, will. when the: elements are inserted in the smoketubes lie against the wall of the header to which they are to be secured by the hereinbefore mentioned ends of the T-bolts 14 terminate at a suitable position within these nuts.

Referring to the set ofelements appertaining to the smoke tubes in the first two lateral rows of such tubesit will be seen that the first element which occupies the group of six smoke tubes nearestthe header is so formed and arranged that its saturated steam inlet and superheated steam outlet end portions, marked respectively 18 and 19, at the points where they connect with the respective U-pipes 18 19 are at the maximum distance apart while at the points where their steam inlet and outlet ends 10', 11', Figs. 4 and 5 are secured in the flange block 12 they lie one behind the other in the same transverse plane of the header, the said flange block itself lying in the central horizontal plane between the said two rows of smoke tubes. In the case of the second superheater element of the set, namely that which occupies the next group of smoke tubes further from the header wall, it will be seen that the laterally bent portions 20, 21, Figs. 1, 2, and 5 of this element connect respectively with the U-pipes 20 21 in adjacent smoke tubes in one lateral row 01 smoke tubes (the upper row in the example shown) and he one behind the other in the same or substantially the same plane; and in the case of the third element of this set, i. e., the element occupying the group of smoke tubes still further from the header 1, the laterally bent portions 22, 23 of this element connect respectively with or form continuations of the U-p-ipes 22 23 in adjacent smoke tubes in the next or lower lateral row of smoke tubes, and also he one behind the other in the same or substantially the same plane. Also as shown the flange blocks 12 in which the saturated steam inlet and outlet ends of these second and third elements of the set are fixed are arranged one on either side of and in close proximity to the flange block 12 of the first element of the set.

24 Figs. 1, 2 and 5 indicates a box spanner which can be readily applied to the rear fastening nuts 17 of the upper and lower flange blocks 12 by which the ends of the second and third superheater elements of a set are secured tothe header, and 25,'Fig. 5 indicates the tommy bar operating the box spanner 24, 26 (Figs. 1 and 2) being suitably spaced tommy holes in the spanner 24. The spanner 24 as shown is without the usual operating stem or spindle. 27 indicates a box spanner having an operating stem 28 and tommy holes 29 applied to the rear fastening nut 17 oi. the intermediate flange block 12 by wvliiclitlie ends of the first element of the set are secured to the header. It will be. understood that the spanners 24 and 27 -,can be readily applied to the nuts 17 of the respective flange blocks (above referred to) by being passed in be tween the end portions of the element pipes situated in the smoke box or-uptake. Either of the box spanners 24 or 27 can oi course be employed for the forward fastening nuts 17 of the'flange blocks.

Referring to Figs. 6, 7, andS of the drawings these figures show how, by forming the end portions 20, 21, of the second element of a set with suitable bends, indicated at 30, 31, Figs. 6 and 8 and the end portions 22, 23 of the third element of the set with similar bends indicated at 32, Ei3,so that these portions lie to one side and clear ot the U-pipes of the elements in the respective rows of smoke tubes, any one element of a set can, whenthe fastening nuts or its flange block 12 have been loosened or removed, be removed from the boiler smoke tubes without in any way disturbing any other element,

including its flange block connection to the header, andthis can be done with the boiler smoke tubes pitched equally on a vertical plane, i. e.,. it is not necessary to increase the pitch of the smoke tubes on the vertical plane as between the sets of elements. The bending of the end portions of the first ele ment of a set (i. e., the element nearest the. header 1), whereby effective clearance is given in respect of the inner fastening nut' 17 for the flange block 12 of this element, is indicated at 34 in Fig. 8. The bending of the respective elements of the set as above described is identical for each set of elements.

35 indicates the suitably pitched smoke tubes of the boiler.

36 is a box spanner shown in position be tween the pipes 21 and 18 for tightening or slackening th rear nut 17 of the upper flange block 12 belonging to the second element of a set. The box spanner 36 is-also shown inposition between the pipes 18 and 19 and in engagement with the nut 17 of the intermediate flange block 12 of the first ele ment of a set, and the spanner is also shown in position between the pipes 19 and 23 and in engagement with the nut 17 of the lower flange block 12 of the third element of a set. This illustrates how the box spanner can be readily applied and operated for tightening or slackening any of the rear nuts 17 of I ample clearance for the box spanner to be applied to the nuts 17, see Fig. 8.

Referring to Fig. 9, which shows an alternative form of the header 1, it will be seen that the partition Wall 2 in this header is a plain flat wall'instead of being curved or trough shaped as shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 7 of the drawings. The header with curved or trough shaped pantition Wall 2 as shown in Figs. 2, 3, and 7 is however the preferable construction as it enables the over all width of the header to bekept as small as practicable while obtaining the required cross area of the steam chambers 3 and a.

N hat we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a superheater. a verticalheader provided internally with a single imperforate partition plate Which extends uniformly between its top and bottom and divides it into a front chamber and a rear chamber, said chambers having lateral openings in their side walls adjacent to the said partition plate, connecting blocks arranged transversely of the said partition plate and one above another and having inlet and outlet openings in their middle parts which are spaced to communicate with the corresponding openings of the chambers, said blocks having also front and rear openings in their end portions, superheater elements having their inlet and outlet end portions secured in the respective openings of the blocks, and

fastening devices engaging with the open ings in the end portions of the blocks and se curing each of the several blocks to the header independently of the others.

2. A superheater as set forth in claim 1, the said partition plate being channelshaped in cross-section and arranged with its middle part projecting rearwardly of its ends in a. vertical plane, and the saidcham hers being of substantially equal area in cross-section.

3. A superheater as set forth in claim 1, andhaving a forwardly projecting vertical flange formed of an extension of one of its side walls and provided with openings for the fastening devices at the front end portions of the said blocks.

4. A; superheater asset forth in claim 1, the joints between the said blocks and the side Wall of the header being formed of plane surfaces, and the ends of the superheater elements being arranged within the openings of the said blocks, so that the blocks can be slid upon the joint surface of the header side wall in coupling and uncoupling the superheater elements.

In testimony whereof we affix our signatures, in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN GEORGE ROBINSON. ROBERT ABS ALOM THOM. Witnesses:

ED. BoUTFLoWER, Jas. STEWART B'nooronn. 

